EghtesadOnline: Iran’s small- and medium-sized enterprises saw a 28% year-on-year increase in the value of investment guarantees issued for them in the last fiscal year (March 21, 2017-18), according to the latest statistics released by SME’s Investment Guarantee Fund.

The value of guarantees issued reached 1.64 trillion rials ($39.26 million) for 353 SMEs, compared to the year before last’s 1.28 ($30.6 million). The number of total guarantees, however, dropped 18% YOY to 189. Khorasan Razavi Province topped the charts in terms of both number and value of guarantees issued with 22 worth 208 billion rials ($4.95 million), indicating a 13% and 271% growth YOY, ISNA reported. By definition, enterprises run by 50 workers or less, and 100 workers or less are considered small- and medium-sized respectively, according to Iran’s Small Industries and Industrial Parks Organization.